As the world continues its search for viable, affordable and renewable energy sources, one type of alternative energy is of particular interest to those who live on Thai islands or in seaside resorts. Coastal areas in particular are suitable for wind power production and medium scale wind farms have already been established on Phuket and the Thai mainland. Small scale wind turbines are also being used to power everything from household appliances to shop lighting.

The market for renewable energy is growing dramatically and annual investment worldwide now exceeds US$100 billion. This of course includes solar energy, biomass, hybrid energy options and nuclear power as well as wind energy generation. Currently wind produces only one per cent of world-wide electricity, but the figure is rising rapidly. This form of power is a viable alternative to fossil fuels as it’s plentiful, can be widely distributed, and produces no greenhouse gas emissions.

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form using wind turbines. Of course, as with any new idea, there are advantages and disadvantages. The construction of large scale wind farms is not universally welcomed due to their negative visual impact and the danger to local birds. Such farms also need a large area of land, which is not always readily available near built-up tourist centres.

However it’s generally recognized that the advantages of wind power outweigh the disadvantages as oil prices soar and coal production decreases.

In some countries, wind generated electricity is used by large companies or factories but in Thailand it’s employed on a smaller scale for homes or shops. The issue here is that the wind is of a constant, low-level nature, rather than the big gales, which are associated with other parts of the world. On Koh Lan, the Thai Windmill Energy Company has a pilot project with 40 wind turbines. It’s the first wind energy plant developed by Thai technologists and is tailored to suit local climate and weather conditions. They’ve developed wind turbines with smaller blades and thinner pillars to suit the particular weather conditions, so now villagers on this island have an alternative to diesel for their electricity consumption.

The cost of the new Thai turbines is also considerably less than normal turbines. The Thai Windmill Energy Company sells each turbine for US$10,000 compared to the usual cost of US$66,000 in America and Europe. Although wind power will never provide for all the electricity needs in Thailand, it has great possibilities for coastal regions and with Thai companies working on producing smaller wind turbines suited to the local climate, you might soon find yourself purchasing a turbine to power your own electricity needs at home. Used in conjunction with, for example, solar energy panels, this renewable resource could change the way we live and provide a cleaner environment for future generations.

This article is provided courtesy of Phuket Villas & Homes as part of the company's corporate responsibility programme.